Black and yellow — if this color combination means nothing to you, then you must have been living under a rock for the past few months.
But just in case you don’t know, “Black and Yellow” is a chart-topping rap song by Wiz Khalifa. The song was the first release from his newest album, Rolling Papers, which dropped March 29.
Rolling Papers is Khalifa’s first full-length studio album. The CD is a follow-up to his two most recent, highly popular mixtapes Cabin Fever and Kush & Orange Juice.
Wiz Khalifa has become a household name among rap fans. “Black and Yellow” launched him into the spotlight, resulting in a huge amount of hype surrounding his first studio album. Khalifa easily lived up to, if not surpassed, the hype.
Rolling Papers is a 14-track, nearly hour-long masterpiece for Khalifa. He was able to take his previous rap style and build on it, making for a very chill, relaxed album.
Many of the songs put you in the mood to do nothing but sit down and unwind, but a few of them are no doubt hard-hitting party tracks.
My favorite aspect of the CD is how a few of the songs’ beats incorporate actual instrumentals. Instead of the generic, continuous thumping bass and programmed sounds of today’s rap, songs like “Fly Solo” and “Get Your Sh*t” incorporate acoustic guitar work.
The first song that stood out for me was “Fly Solo.” The song was previously released as “I Had A Dream” on Khalifa’s mixtape Half Baked. The combination of a guitar and drum kit providing a beat and Khalifa’s lyrics make for an extremely enjoyable song. Wiz raps about how he doesn’t need any help to make it, and that often when he makes a connection with someone, they end up dragging him down with them.
“Rooftops” immediately caught my attention. He tells us how he started as nothing and he “used to not be allowed in the building” but is now “on the rooftop.” This metaphor shows us how Wiz has blown up in recent years and how his hard work has paid off and enabled him to live a better life.
Of course, Khalifa has to make some party music, and he does just that with “Roll Up.” The song is the second single from the album and very similar to “Black and Yellow,” sharing hard-hitting bass lines, quick rhyming and catchy, easy-to-remember choruses.
“Roll Up” is about how one of Wiz’s lady friends should be with him instead of her current boyfriend because Khalifa can provide much more than her current man, both emotionally and physically.
Overall, the album is good, but nothing more. Other releases this year surpass it in quality of production and lyrics. But it is Wiz’s best work by far.
